Turkey Time

The last few days have been a whirl wind to say the least. It has been fun just very hectic. Here is how the last few days went (in a nutshell of course).

Wednesday - Heard the news that my Great-grandmother passed away that morning. She went peacefully in her sleep you could say. She had slipped into a coma state the day prior so it sounds like she did not suffer. I went on with my day knowing there was not anything that was going to make my day better so I continued with chores as normal. That evening Dan and I stayed awake fairly late preparing for Thanksgiving morning.

Thursday - Turkey Day! I woke at 5am to get myself and the girls ready. We all arrived at Melissa and Tylers around 6:30am, the family had the turkey in right at seven. We all enjoyed homemade cinnamon rolls that Melissa made...delicious! They are the best made cinnamon rolls I have ever had. The food was amazing...two turkeys (one traditionally made and one fried), stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, rolls, berry pie, pumpkin pie...wow...it was all incredible. Dan this year had four plates in front of him for dinner. He made it through yet again as the one who ate the most. 40lbs of turkey and we came home with just a small zip-lock bag of leftovers, thats all there was for each family. My goodness can we eat! After dinner we prepared ourselves for the day after Thanksgiving sales and went looking through all the ads for ideas.

Friday - Sales here starting as early as 12:01am which we were planning on getting up for but what we wanted was already gone so we skipped that sale. We did however get up for the sales at Target and Walmart that started at 4 and 5am. We finished Kieras Christmas shopping and are about finished with Skylar so it is just little Lilly that we have left. She will not be needing much this year but it is her first Christmas so she definently needs something. It was fun to go with Danny in the morning as much as he does not care for the Christmas season he does enjoy doing things for his girls and it makes him to be a bigger spender than myself during this time. After all the Christmas madness we came home for a little while and rested before we took the girls to breakfast. The rest of the day was spent in bed relaxing with our babies. Oh how wonderful!

Last night Dan and Kiera were both up sick. Poor babies threw up all night with fevers that just did not want to break. So here I am trying to take care of them while keeping Lilly and away as much as possible. Neither one of need to get sick so we have been hiding out in my bedroom while the two sicklies are in the living room. Hopefully it is just a quick sickness and tomorrow they are feeling better.

In short that was our adventurous Thanksgiving week. Loves to you all and hope everyone had a great holiday with friends and family.

On To A Better Place

Flower Ganelle Swanson-Ruzicka

    11.28.1925 - 11.24.2010

Today I have sat in a blur trying to decide what to say about this amazing woman. My Great-Grandmother Ganelle passed away this morning. The life that she lived was remarkable. This great woman survived the passing of her husband, the death of her only son and overcame cancer twice. I do not think I can put into words how much she has touched my life. Ganelle was the "grandma" to everyone, a sweet lady that anyone would want to be around. And everyone did. She was so sweet to everyone, always wanting to do more than she needed to in making someone else feel welcome. I am so blessed to say that I had a relationship with this incredible grandmother. I know many people do not get the chance to know their great-grandmother. My grandmother lived to see and meet my two oldest children and lived to know that my third and most recent was born healthy. My children may not have the memories of her being so young but they will have the photographs. I will keep the memories for them as it will be one of the most special times of my life.

We will all miss her so much but know that she lived a long and good life.

I love you Grandma and you will be missed. This song has always been a favorite of mine and it has been on my heart since I heard of Grandmas passing. You will always have a place in my heart Grandma.

Four Days Old

First thing to say I guess is that I still cannot believe that Lilly is finally here. She is now four days old and doing great. Her sleeping pattern is a little flip-flopped right now but we are working on it. So much and yet so little has gone on in this house the past few days and it seems surreal. We all came home on Wednesday evening around 7pm and all in all that first night was alright. It was definently better than the previous weeks the family had been having. Lilly does not sleep great in the evening so I was up all night while Dan slept off what he could with Kiera in our bed. The next statement is not a complaint as it is a great blessing Danny has a job that he can return back to...however it was sad that he did not get even a full day to enjoy his family at home. He returned to work Thursday, it is now Saturday and he his working. The poor guy has not gotten a day yet to relax with us all at home. I miss him.

Today has been rough for me. I am not one to complain but I have been extremely sore since the birth and it does not seem to be getting better yet. My body has not gotten a break and I don't think it will until it comes to a complete crash. The two big girls today have not been so helpful. Some days are better than others and I have to remember that but today is not a better. Neither one are listening or cooperating with each other and I am still so exhausted that a little back-up I am sure would make all the difference.

Lilly had her first check-up today and I must say it went fantastic! She is now 6lbs 4oz which is only three ounces less than her birth weight. They say this is very normal and by her next check-up she should be at least her birth weight if not more. She is in the 8th percentile for weight and the 10th percentile for heigth. Still very small just like Kiera was. Everything looks great on her; the doc says that she is perfectly healthy and seems very happy.

Skylar finally got to see Lilly for the first time on Friday and she is in love to say the least. She is already a pretty great big sister to Kiera and I am sure she will be the same with Lilly. She was so surpised at how small Lilly was (not remembering Kiera of course). The entire way home from Grand Junction Skylar kept Lilly pretty happy; giving her the pacifier when needed, singing her a song, whatever she could think of to keep her sister from crying. She can be a huge help (when she wants to be). I truly hope that Lilly will love Sky as much as Kiera does now. Anywhere we go together as a family Kiera is right next to her "sissy." We all have names now except for Skylar who for now remains only known as "sissy." That is ok with us. I keep thinking to myself, "wow we are a family of five." Anywhere we go now we have to get the big table, we have to get two carts, there will always be five of us now. It is such a blessing I just had not really thought of that. We are a big family and I love it!

(Sorry everything is out of order I just wrote as it came to me today) Loves!

Lilly Jo Iversen

Finally! Our beautiful little miss Lilly is here!

November 16th, 2:47pm
6lbs 4oz; 19 1/2in long

After waking up early yesterday morning to contractions I could barely walk through I finally went to the hospital and arrived around 10am. Deciding not to call Dan back until after confirmation that our baby was coming, after finding out I finally had made progress from 3cm to 4 to 4 1/2cm we called him. With Dan on his way I continued to progress rather quickly, thank goodness! Dan arrived around noon and I finally got an epideral around 7cm, only about 25 minutes before our little lady made her arrival. Around 2:30ish Lilly's heart rate when down very low. I was only 8 1/2 to 9cm at this point but Lilly had to come out so whentold to push; I pushed! We had specialist on hand to check her lungs thinking after the amneo test on Sunday that came back not good we would need them, however they only stayed for maybe fifteen minutes and went on their way as there was nothing wrong at all with her lungs. She came out happy and healthy! Thank you Lord!

She is beautiful and we cannot get enough of her. She has blue eyes, strawberry blonde hair, her dads ears and my lips. We are so blessed to have our Lilly part of the family. Our family of four becomes a wonderful family of five.

Tonights Blurbs

Random note for this evening: I am so thankful for a husband helps with so much in my life. He takes care of us all and truly loves me. My life has changed so much with him in it (for the best of course). His love has completly changed life and for that I could never repay him. These last few months have been so difficult for me and he has been there every step of the way. He has been so attentive to what mood I have been in which goes to show how intune we really are with one another. I have an amazing husband and I am thankful to say that I have amazing in-laws. Who says that very often?


My in-laws are incredible. My sister-in-law has done everything she can to make sure I get the rest I need which is difficult for her considering she was counting on me to help at the daycare while she continued through school full time. My brother-in-law checks in pretty often to make sure I have everything I need when Dan is at work and my mother/father-in-law are always amazing. They are all they for me when I need them and I not only can call them but see them whenever need be. My family is incredible, and along with all the loved ones I have just mentioned I have the greatest friend/sister in the world. Dana has been in my life for about ten years, she has seen my life through my eyes or at least tries to at times. She is one of the most incredible women I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I do not have to explain myself to her ever and that makes for the greatest conversations anyone could have. In five minutes she can be caught up on a months worth of information that would take anyone else at least an hour to understand. I love her and the only bad thing I could ever say is that we live so many miles apart, though no matter where we are I am blessed to say I have no doubt we will always be linked to one another.

I love you Dana!

Kena

Counting down!

First thing is I finally figured out how to change the background on this dang blog. It has only been like two years but alas somethings take time. For example this pregnancy; baby is taking her time. We were in the hospital yet again this past weekend and decided to undergo an amneosentesis. Not the mostcomfortable operation that is for sure. The doc put a needle about 4 1/2cm into my stomach while being monitored by the ultrasound tech to confirm that the needle was no where near baby. Fortunately they were in a very good spot and were no where close to baby or the umbilical cord. Thank goodness! We went ahead with this test to let us know what the babys lung development was at. If all was well we would be induced within the next few days and end what has been one of the hardest few months in my life. Unfortunately/fortunately we found out why she has been fighting these contractions so hard: good lung development is anywhere between 2.5 and 25 her lung development was only at 1.2

I say unfotunately only because it is a very difficult thing to feel helpless and contracting so often. The pain is not unbearable but is a contstant pain that makes it difficult to do much else. The very good is although it will be a hard for me the next week and a half we now know why she fights. She knows better than all of us and knows she is not quite ready yet. I will receive a phone call sometime today to set up the induction for the wee of Thanksgiving. Our doctor who is incredible by the way will induce me at 39 weeks. By that date Lilly should be ready and willing to make her entrance with no more problems. I will try and keep you all updated with dates and such as I am given them. Thank you all for the prayers and the help thus far, no matter what she will be here soon and we will have a new little miracle in our home to love and care for.

Kena

Skylar's Corner

I had so much fun today. I was so good today.

Exhaustion

Here I sit still contracting every three minutes or so and I can not help but feel utterly exhausted. I have been contracting like this for over five days now and have no idea how to get a good nights sleep in. Today we have to go back to the hospital as I now have to see them twice a week until babys arrival. They want to stick me on the monitor long enough to make sure baby is not under any stress. With the contractions so often they just want to be sure which is more than ok with me I just wish we were going in to have this little one as oppose to just visits in and out of the hospital. I guess no matter what we will see her soon enough and all this will pay off. At least when Lilly comes home the exhaustion will be for something. I am so tired...

Round four or was it five?

Update to you all: Thursday I went into the hospital after waiting what felt like forever. (I did not want to end up at the hospital only to be sent back with no baby) We got to the hospital around 2pm and I was contracting one on top of another. They gave me morphine and something else to settle down the contractions as the pattern I was in was not a good one for me or baby. They said contracting like that was giving Lilly less oxygen and the contractions were not getting enough time do anything to me. I am not for any drugs but if my baby is at any risk I will accept what is needed. After some time passed I began to contract a more normal pattern, about every 2-3 minutes so I was getting breathes in between which meant so was Lilly. Friday morning they tried not to stop anything they were still waiting to see if I was in real labor. By this point every nurse and doctor was calling me a "medical mystery." They had never seen anyone contract in such a way and not dialate. I went through this all day Friday until they decided to try potosin to help with the contractions. (For those who do not know Potosin they use to induce labor) I was put on potosin around 6pm Friday evening. Nothing changed until about 2am when I had finally dialated to 3cm, whoohoo! Our nurse Niki who has been with us at some point during every one of our hospital visits was almost more excited than we were. She did a happy dance for me since I was stuck on the monitors. After this accomplishment my body just seemed to be in a stand still yet again. Saturday around 9am they took me off the Potosin as it was not doing what it was intended to do and for the rest of our visit I sat in pain and exhaustion with no more dialation. Sunday we were sent home because there was no significant change to keep me in the hopsital plus I would rest better at home was the thought. So here I sit still contracting every 3 minutes or so with no change and I am exhausted. At this point as much as I would love to see my babys face and hold her in my arms I need rest, whether I begin to contract with progress or stop contracting all together I will be happy. The Lord knows best and knows what my body can take better than anyone so please pray with me that his plan is revealed and either we come home with a baby in a few days or the pain I am feeling ceases and I can rest until that day comes.

Kiera's Corner

I love my daddy. Daddy fixed my swimming pool. (aka hot tub)

October 31st

The end of another month...whoohoo! The next few weeks could not go by fast enough. I know it is great that Lilly is getting the time she needs to grow and become one very healthy little gal, but my goodness this pregnancy has been difficult. The hospital visits have been the most difficult and with that so many days of school have been missed which brings so much homework. Although yes, I should be continuing my already packed day with more homework I needed a little time to regain myself and relax. This blog is a place for me to just speak out about anything I have to say. With all this stress on myself right now I still found time to enjoy parts of the weekend with my girls and hubby. Yesterday we had a great time trick-or-treating down main street with the kids. They had such a great time, not to mention both our girls along with Maddy and Port won a little costume contest which they thought was the best thing ever!It was a great time with the family.

Last night we had a great time making caramel apples. Of course Dan ended up really making the apples himself. The girls attention span is not very long, they each made their own personal apple and that was it. As much as Dan says he does not like the holidays he always ends up right in the middle. Yes, alot of it is for the girls but in the end I know he enjoys it. We attempted to make M&M and S'more caramel apples. I think for our first try they turned out great! (Tasted delicious too)

It was a great day and I am glad that even though my brain and body have been going crazy I was able to enjoy the time with my family.

New Opportunities

Today an amazing opportunity has presented itself. I am extremely excited but feel like I am jumping around trying to figure out where to start. It is an incredible blessing that seems to have dropped into our lap. I am going to put this one completely in His hands as anything I or we have ventured into without completely leaving it with Him never seems to work out. The excitement that is building is almost overwhelming! As I learn more I will spill more to anyone that would like to know. However, for now I heard of this only today and want to get more information before letting anyone else know.

The girls and Dan had a great and busy weekend. This past Friday, Danny had off from work and was the first Friday he was able to pick up Skylar from Junction. Skylar was overwhelmed with excitement to say the least when she saw her daddy at the door. Saturday just made things even better for the girls where we spent hours with Tyler, Melissa and the kids carving pumpkins, eating dinner and watching some UFC fights. Today continued our busy but very fun family weekend spending all day together. The girls each got a new toy, Kiera a doctor kit and Skylar some moon dough. (That to them was all they needed...ahh when life was simply about playing with your siblings) To end the family weekend we had some random guests drop in and visit and then we had family over for dinner and some dessert made especially by Skylar. It was a pretty great weekend to say the least. I am truly blessed to have the days and moments spent with my girls and husband.

So ends our family fun for this weekend but next weekend is already in mind and in motion.

Pumpkin Time

This month has already been a long one to say the least. Yet here we are at the end of the month already celebrating Halloween. With both the girls at home this weekend and next weekend we will definently be staying busy. Already today we will be headed over to Mel and Ty's to carve pumpkins, eat dinner and watch some kind of fight on the television. Next weekend we will be crazy busy taking Skylar and Kiera around town to trick or treat on Saturday evening. (Sky has to be at her moms by 6:30pm on Sunday which is real Halloween) We don't want her to miss the fun time with us so we are sort of having a Halloween weekend. Although this particular holiday neither Dan or I really care for, the girls love to dress up and get candy right now. As soon as they decide they don't like it anymore then this holiday will go bye-bye to be honest. For now watching them have a good time playing "pretend" is a joy while they are so small and innocent.

It is difficult for me to sit here and think only of my family when around the rest of the world are friends and family that suffer. An aunt who lost her husband to cancer after 61 years of marriage, a friend who lies with her 4month old son in a hospital having to say good-bye, and my husband who lost a sister. I truly do know that the Lord will never give us more than we can bare, but grievance is to be expected. There is no easy way to say good-bye to anyone that you love and for this I say a prayer everyday for those who have had no choice but to do just that.

Rueben Hultburg 1928 - 2010

Kiera's Corner

ewww i lo ve my mom. i love my daddy too.

Skylar's Corner

my daddy is playing on the t.v. I love my mom.

The MK Way

The opportunity that the Mary Kay way has given me is amazing. It is incredible the women that I meet at every turn in this business. They are amazing in themselves! Where else can you find a business opportunity to bring in an income while staying home and feel like yourself around other women? I love being a mother and a wife but I also have to be just Kena and I am learning that it is ok to feel like this. The business part is really taking off and I am excited to see what else it has to offer. This month I have added two new team members to my team and I am very excited to see what this opportunity has for them. Welcome to the team and most of all to the family, ladies!

If you have any questions about this incredible opportunity please contact me. I would love to share more with you.

kiversen@marykay.com
www.marykay.com/kiversen

On the outside looking in...

Here we go and only a few weeks before Lily will make her debut. There is so much to get done and I am not quite sure where to start. I do know that we are finishing the girls room tomorrow so that the bunk bed can be finished and have one room completely done before she is here. I am in that mood where I feel everything has to be done at once and nothing is good enough unless i do it myself. However, I must remind myself that I need to sit back and enjoy the last few weeks of life as is. I of course am excited as all get out to have another little girl in my arms and in our life but I must remember to breathe and be thankful for what is right in front of me.

As is sit here on my couch I look out and see my husband lying with Kiera and it is the most precious thing I could look at. They are both so calm together watching cartoons. It is beautiful! Skylar is gone but I know she is safe and having a good time. In my thoughts she is always and with her, Kiera and Dan I am at peace. Although yes I will not fully forget how many things we need to get done before the next bundle of joy joins us I will breathe easier knowing that my life is complete no matter what actually gets done. Remember the little things. The moments that truly take my breathe away like when Dan glances my way and have butterflies, when Kiera giggles, the nights Skylar wants to sit with mom, raindrops outside falling on the home that we own, all these together make a life worth living.

To all who come across this...remember to take a step back, look outside and breathe. You are alive and the world is waiting so go enjoy it!

2:00am

Yep, it is that time it is my neck of the woods:) Oh how I wish I could sleep. Thirty-three weeks pregnant and I am as big if not bigger than I was when I delivered Kiera at thirty-seven weeks. I toss and turn feeling physically uncomfortable only to be completely awoken by my thoughts. When I am the slightest uncomfortable they seem to be at their loudest. Lord only knows what my thoughts and I will speak about as their is so much in life that can only be thought of due to lack of listeners or the fact that some things should not be said out loud. I am learning this since finding Danny. Not that I cannot say anything that comes to mind to him personally, afterall he is my best friend but in other situations we must choose our battles. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent, it has taken me a while to understand the silent part. I have seen that sometimes are best moments are in silence, we learn to listen around us and not just to our own voice. It makes for a very interesting growing experience I must say that.

On a different note I will pick up Skylar tomorrow and though it may seem trivial to some to post everytime she leaves and comes home she is a thought on my mind constantly. It is so difficult to be a step-parent. I love her so much, she is my best friend as well as my daughter. Every moment she is away I spend it thinking of her. I wish daily to be close to her side, she is growing up so fast and it is hard that we miss so much. My prayer is that I continue as step-mother to show her nothing less than the full amount of love I have for her. I never want her to feel insecure or unsure about my role in her life. I am not her mother and I do understand and accept that, but I do want her to feel that she has a place in my life no matter what comes our way. Right now she calls me 'mom,' ten years from now it may be 'Kena' the name I have is of no concern to me, but the friendship we have together and the moments any mother/daughter have I pray she knows and grows up knowing that I will always have her back. There is a seperation between step and bio parent, I will be the first to admit this but it is how much of a seperation you have that makes a world of difference.

 For Skylar: " I will, if you choose, to be standing next to you as you are given any award during your time at school, when you graduate and take that diploma into your hands, when you announce your engagment and when you walk down the aisle. These moments, these happenings in your life among the many others not mentioned are times that I promise as a parent, your step or not that I will be there. I love you with all my heart and as your mother do not ever feel like you have let me down. There may come a time in your life when you feel you do not need me or maybe you do not even want me, but I will always be around for you to come back to. You are a part of my world, when I said 'I do' to your daddy I also said it to you. Just remember that blood or no blood I am here by your side. I love you kid and please do not ever forget it"

Life can be crazy sometimes and yet here we are going along with it the best we know how. I cannot say enough times how blessed I am to have such an amazing husband and two (soon to be three) beautiful girls.

Ready or not...

Here we go! There is so much to tell it is crazy. All great news I might add...this month has flown by thank goodness and October is right around the corner.

The best news, I am already 31 weeks (tomorrow) but oh so close! That is four weeks farther than what I was when I went into the hospital. Yea!!! So exciting and so relieved! Every day matters and every week I just breathe a little easier. We have a doctor appointment on Friday again so I will give you all an update then on how our little Miss Lilly is doing.

Mary Kay business is beautiful. It is such a blessing in this home and giving somemany options it is almost unbelievable! Right now I am offering a free gift with purchase to celebrate, so please go to: www.marykay.com/kiversen to make an order and receive this great gift.

The girls are bolth doing great. Skylar will be home on Friday and we have a lot going on. She is going to be so excited when she gets home. Friday night is Family Night and well the rest of the weekend you all will have to wait to hear about, Skylar has to see for herself first.


Well this month has gone by quickly and we are really getting ready for baby Lilly. Oh, and my amazing husband finally knocked down our living room wall. It looks amazing! The floor will be finished next and our living room and kitchen will never be the same!

We also took some pics of the girls and are going to have more coming. For now enjoy these few...

Skylar's Corner

Madison spent the night and we stayed up late.

Skylar's Corner

I played with Kiera. I am a Kindergartener. My daddy is coming home in a little bit.

Home at Last!

She is home! Our beautiful, oldest princess is home. She looked so small and yet so big at the same time as she came out of her Kindergarten class. Her backpack is about as big as she is which made her look so small to me. And yet as she walked out in line with the rest of all the pint sized kiddos she seemed to have matured over night. She is in school! This is crazy. She really is growing up right before our eyes. I wanted to just cry happy tears but that would be silly. As we walked to the car she couldn't help but overly excited that me and Kiera were there to bring her home. All her mind was thinking about was coming home. She talked the whole way back lol, telling us about every detail in her class, what she is learning, her new friends etc... We love her so much and are so glad that she is home. I would write more on all of her excitement but I am sure it would be a bore to some lol. Enjoy your day all as I am sure we will now that our family is complete!

Holding on

My life the past week has been one big blur. It has been dragging on yet I can't seem to place one event to the next. I have been sitting on bedrest now for four days. Poor Kiera is taking in a whole new life change. She has to learn very quickly that mommy cannot do everything for her. It is taking a toll on her but we will make it through.

Dan had the day off again yesterday. The poor guy has been at my side since Tuesday when I went into the hospital. He is the greatest husband and daddy ever! Even after he had to stay home with me all weekend and miss hunting he stayed home yesterday to take Kiera to her first dance class. He was so proud of her, she did great. Of course she was a little hesitant at first but by the middle of class she was twirling and running around like the little dance queen she is. We love her so much, her and Kiera make our world!

Our other little princess comes home on Friday! We are so excited. No more of this prolonged time away from her. She is the other half of our world and belongs with her family. That girl is just the smartest most adorable thing ever. I can't wait to hear how her first few weeks at school have been, I am sure she has a lot to tell us.

Well time to go for the day I guess. For all you that need any skin care or need to restock your make-up cabinet (or in my case, bag) please give me a call or shoot me an email. I have a large inventory of the basics every woman needs and since I am on bed rest I can pretty much only send out things. So any do from home orders would be greatly appreciated!

www.marykay.com/kiversen

Countdown to? ...take your pick

Here is to the second day home and the second day on bedrest. It is going to be a long few weeks... I am not sure yet how I plan on getting anything done. It has already proven difficult to take care of Kiera, her being so busy. I was still at the daycare and school full time though thankfully everyone in those areas are extremely supportive. It is the simple things though, like how do I make dinner for us if I am not to be on my feet, or drive to take Kiera and Skylar anywhere? The Lord will just have to help me out:)

Where should our coutdowns begin. Now that we are counting towards more than one thing. The first I guess would be the original countdown which is until Skylar comes home again. It is now Sunday the Fifth of September and she comes home on Friday the 10th! That is only four and half more days and we will picking up our little girl from school. We are all so excited to have the schedule start, we will now be with her most weekends and everyother major holiday! That's not even including summer which we were blessed to recieve most of the summer months.

The next countdown or countup as I say is the welcome of Miss Lily! Now that we have everything stable I am praying for each day to pass smoothly. With each passing day comes another week. This wednesday will be 28 weeks and that is better than 27 weeks. Every day that passes little Lily gets a little bigger and a little healthier to make her real debut. I can not believe that soon our family will be blessed with a third little princess!

Baby Still on Board

My goodness it has been a long few days...well really a long week. Little Miss Lily decided she may want to enter the world a little early. Dan and I have been in the hospital since Tuesday morning while the docs did what they could to keep her where she belongs. Wednesday we got released from one hospital just to end up at another one from then until this morning. Magnesium is one major muscle relaxer! It got my contractions to stay under control while my body fought a UTI. Now we are home after four nights in the family center and I am on complete bedrest. I will do what I need to do to keep Lily healthy and on board but it stinks when you can not even get up to throw laundry in.
On a good note although we were in the hospital for a few days Lily was doing great. Her heart rate stayed up and she was moving at least once every hour. From the numerous ultrasounds we had done we were told she is a whopping 2lbs 6oz right now. Not big enough yet of course but if we can get to full term I am predicting she will be around 7lbs. She is still going to be pretty small I think but I guess she will weigh more than Kiera did.
Speaking of Kiera, she did so well overall this week. She had to deal going back and forth to her aunts house while coming to visit Dan and I whenever she could. When at the hospital she was so well behaved. She was gentle with me after we explained that mommy was sick and could not pick her up. Her and Dan played games on the computer and watched a lot of Dora! I was so proud of her:) Now we are home and she keeps saying, "Mommy not go bye-bye." I am so glad to be home with her and so blessed overall for my girls and my husband (who did not leave my side at all during all of this). I love you guys!

Kindergarten

And so it has begun...Our first little lady is officially in school. It is so hard to believe that just a few years ago she was potty training and now she has her backpack and school supplies and walking into a whole new life. It was hard to cope with the fact that we could not see her big smile as she got up and ready to leave for her first big day. And although I was not there to see her leave I woke this morning and thought of nothing else but her as the clock hit 8am. At that moment this morning I knew that she was putting her supplies away, finding her first school chair and meeting the first of her many school friends. I miss her so much! It is only her first day of Kindergarten but anyone who knows her can say that she is going to do amazing things as life goes on.

It is Thursday and I am excited to say that my first week of this semester is about to come to an end. Thank goodness! The Iversen home has survived its first week of the fall semester. We have had dinner ready on the table every night, all the laundry done and all the dishes and bedrooms kept up along with homework down. There is going to be homework this weekend but thank goodness I have a great husband who gives me the time that I need to get things done, even around hunting season (now that is dedication). Let us hope the remainder of the semester goes this well!

16 Days and Still Counting Down

I need a Skylar hug. It has been a very, very long day. And when it has been this hectic talking to my little buddy is the best way to relax. I miss her so much when she is gone. My day started at 6am to be ready in time to make it to the Daycare by 7am. Had a drop off with a full load of children in the car at noon. Got back and put everyone to rest, had pick ups at 2, and 3 at three different schools, Holy Moley! I am finally home, have put dinner in the oven, and am about to start the rest of my evening reading and working on homework. Only two days into the semester and I am ready for a small break. However, despite the craziness that today brought to the household life is bliss. I know it sounds like a contradiction if you read all about the day and how down I could be about it. Don't take it the wrong way...today was crazy but I could have a job that limits my time for education, I was home by five and have dinner in the oven to be eaten by my husband and I as soon as he comes home. That gives me the time that I need to finish up the one load of laundry there is to do and begin my studying time. All the little kinks that are in the mix right now will someday fade away and we will find a great little groove that fits.

As said in the title there are sixteen more days until my snuggle bud comes home. Thank goodness this is the last time we will have to go so long without seeing her. From the 10th on we will see her almost every single Friday and not take her back until Sunday evening. And oh so looking forward to the summer! Three weeks in a row with her, and she will only be gone for a week and come back again for three more weeks! Summer with all three of my girls is going to be a new experience and I am so excited. We will get to choose what the two big girls participate it this summer! Soccer, Gymnastics, Dance, Swimming? The options we shall have this year!

18 Days and Counting...

For the first time EVER...on Sunday anyway, I am alone at home. Dan had to take Skylar back to Breanne tonight and Kiera wanted to go with "daddy". She never wants to go without me but it is nice to have a break. Tonight starts the countdown to September 10th. This is the second time in the last two months that we have to wait over two weeks to see Skylar:( We all hate it but this is the last time it will be like this thank goodness! From the 10th on we will have her almost every weekend! And come this summer she will be home for three weeks at time and only gone for one week before we see her again. I hate countdowns but again I am thankful that this is the last time we will have to wait this long. Poor girl always going back and forth and it is so awful when she does not want to, which is very often. Someday soon she will be of age and can make some decisions herself and we will stand behind her no matter what the choice 100%.

Classes start tomorrow and it seems like I had no summer at all. The three weeks I did have off every weekend was full of some hustle and bustle. Dan did jump out of a plane during one of our weekends together. My heart was pounding and yet he was a perfection of calm. Him and his sister, Melissa, decided it was time I guess to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. They loved it and Danny plans on doing it again someday soon.

Really great news for my MaryKay business! I did a ten show week, ten shows in one week was a big WOW! Life has been great and even though classes start I am so excited to stick with it this time. It has been a remarkable journey thus far and I really am eager to see where it goes. "Keep going" is all I have to say!

www.marykay.com/kiversen

Skylar's Corner

I played checkers with my dad. I love my mom. Yesterday my sister and me got new zhuzhu pets and played all day with them!

From four to five!

December 4th is the new date we are all looking forward to in the Iversen household. This is the due date for the new arrival of number five in the home! A new little princess is what we are expecting on or before that day and we are all very excited. The girls are ready for another little one around but their minds are filled with how "daddy" will be the only boy around four girls. I love how the minds of our children work. Lily Jo Iversen, that will be the name of the new little one about to enter our world. She is already an active one there is no doubt about that. She has kicked me more in a week than it seems Kiera did in a month. Maybe she is mad at me because I called her Landon for so long...I tell her that was before I knew she was a little princess, but that does not seem to help:)

 The house seems to be shrinking as our numbers grow but that just means more room for improvement. Dan is hoping to expand this next summer on our little piece of land. It would be great with five in a home of only two rooms and one bathroom! This are all things we are looking forward to in not just the next few months but also in the next few years....today however has been a long but fulfilling day. Kiera has gone now two weeks in big girl panties and is doing remarkably well. Skylar now gets to spend most weekends with us at home so a trip to junction was made for her pick-up. Mesa State bookstore was another stop on the way where books were once again the cost of a brand new computer or better. Every time I make a trip to Junction I miss my home that much more. Cities are just crazy hectic for me anymore. I love when I walk down the street most everyone I know. I love that my children can play outside and still ride their bikes up and down the street (me watching of course) but the option is there. I love that every classroom setting has no more than twenty students and you become a part of something not just another number. Life here is better than anywhere I could imagine.

Another Long Wait

 I just cannot seem to find the time to write on here lately. It seems like life has been on hyper drive for a while now. Where have the days gone when you had no responsibilities and no one to answer to (except your parents) who in most cases answered for you anyway. Oh well that is the past and no use looking at that. The Lord has been good to us and the family in this past year. Dan and I are debt free besides our mortgage. Which at our age I have to say is doing real good. My father who was suppose to be on dialysis this past June has yet to even be near a machine. The longer he goes the better, just gives him more time to find a kidney donor. Three of the four of us sisters have graduated highschool and moved out and onto college. For my parents that is great! But still leaves them with three children at home:) I have a HUGE family and I love it! This year I will be raising money for Dan and I to go to Africa and bring food and clothing to many families in need. That will be a blessing all in itself. I have started my photography business. And it going wonderfully, there is just something about capturing those perfect moments and seeing the smiles on my customers faces when they see the finished work. It brings a whole new meaning to life. Well I should go and I will try to keep this up a little better.

*For all those interested in my photography work see below*

Kena Iversen Photography
970-596-6639
www.kenaiversenphotography.com